Dighton's Tricentennial Parade travels a historic path

Spectators lined the streets of Dighton on Saturday for a parade 300 years in the making. The Dighton Tricentennial Parade began shortly after 10 a.m. and traveled from the corner of Main Street and Elm Street, down Elm Street — one of the earliest traveled roads in Dighton and also called the “Old Bristol Path” — and onto Somerset Avenue, where it ended at Dighton Elementary School.

Spectators lined the streets of Dighton on Saturday for a parade 300 years in the making.

The Dighton Tricentennial Parade began shortly after 10 a.m. and traveled from the corner of Main Street and Elm Street, down Elm Street — one of the earliest traveled roads in Dighton and also called the “Old Bristol Path” — and onto Somerset Avenue, where it ended at Dighton Elementary School.

“I think it was a great parade,” said Selectmen Chairman Bud Whalon. “I think Colette McKeon (Chairwoman of the Tricentennial Committee) did a great job, fantastic job. Good turnout. Really a good day for Dighton.”

“A lot of hard work was put in by a lot of people, and this board wants to thank everyone who participated in any form,” said Selectman Dean Cronin.

The theme of the parade was the “March of Time,” and the marchers were separated into eight divisions meant to honor the town’s history.

The first division was public officials, featuring Dighton officials — many of them dressed in colonial outfits — Rep. Patricia Haddad, D-Somerset, Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton, and others. Congressional candidate Sean Bielat — who will be facing Joseph Kennedy, III, this November — also marched later in the parade.

The second division consisted of veterans and their families and featured a World War II-era troop transport and other vehicles.

Van Gyzen was joined in the veterans division by Kennedy Trond, 15, and Anthony Taddeo, 7 — John van Gyzen’s niece and nephew.

Divisions three and four consisted of Native Americans and colonists, respectively, featuring members of the Dighton Intertribal Indian Council and a number of colonial units firing musket volleys along the route.

The final four divisions were shipbuilding, farming, business and industry and modern times, respectively. The parade featured three marching bands, a number of colonial bands, unicyclists playing the fife and drum, clowns from Clowing for Kidz Foundation, a number of local businesses and organizations displaying floats, boy scout troops and Dighton Youth Soccer teams, among others.

The parade finished with a line of fire engines from Dighton, Berkley, Raynham and Norton, with lights flashing and sirens wailing.

On Elm Street, Dighton residents Henry and Mary Bennett gathered on their front lawn with friends, neighbors, children and grandchildren to watch the parade.

“We were here 50 years ago (at the 250th parade), and we were interested in what was going to take place,” said Mary Bennett. “It was very enjoyable. A lot larger than I thought it was going to be.”

“Great. I thought it was great,” said Henry Bennett, as the last of the fire department vehicles passed by.

Page 2 of 2 - Among their group was Chuck Boisvert, 88, who in 1962 participated in the local beard-growing club Brothers of the Brush and marched in the 250th parade. He traveled with his wife and daughter from Parrish, Fla., just to visit his hometown and catch the parade.

“We had a good time, that’s all,” said Boisvert about the 250th parade, as he showed pictures of himself from 1962. “We ended up at the Rehoboth fair.”

When asked about the 300th parade, he replied simply, “awesome.”

Following the parade, many spectators and marchers made their way over to the Dighton Lions pavilion behind Town Hall, where a free community picnic began — featuring hot dogs, hamburgers, drinks, a barbershop quartet and local band The Strangers.

The community picnic also coincided with the 22nd Annual Dighton Council Oak Powwow being held on the field behind Town Hall.

“I hope the people enjoyed themselves,” said Selectman Thomas Pires. “Hopefully, the kids here 50 years from now will remember it.”

The next Tricentennial event will be the 300th Birthday Bash/Tricentennial Ball at the Segregansett Country Club on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 7 to 11 p.m.

The final day to purchase tickets is Tuesday. Tickets can be purchased at the Town Clerk’s office, Almeida’s Country Store, BayCoast Bank, Frate’s Drive-In, Mechanics Cooperative Bank, Torres Insurance, This and That Treasures and Anjulans’ Florist and Gardens.